President Obama used his address at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington this morning to highlight that it’s “clear that around the world freedom of religion is under threat,” claiming that his administration is helping save the day.

“We see governments engaging in discrimination and violence against the faithful. We sometimes see religion twisted in an attempt to justify hatred and persecution against other people just because of who they are, or how they pray or who they love. Old tensions are stoked, fueling conflicts along religious lines, as we’ve seen in the Central African Republic recently, even though to harm anyone in the name of faith is to diminish our own relationship with God. Extremists succumb to an ignorant nihilism that shows they don’t understand the faiths they claim to profess — for the killing of the innocent is never fulfilling God’s will; in fact, it’s the ultimate betrayal of God’s will,” Obama said at the Washington Hilton event.

“Today, we profess the principles we know to be true. We believe that each of us is ‘wonderfully made’ in the image of God. We, therefore, believe in the inherent dignity of every human being — dignity that no earthly power can take away. And central to that dignity is freedom of religion — the right of every person to practice their faith how they choose, to change their faith if they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do this free from persecution and fear,” he continued.

“Our faith teaches us that in the face of suffering, we can’t stand idly by and that we must be that Good Samaritan. In Isaiah, we’re told ‘to do right. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed.’ The Torah commands: ‘Know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.’ The Koran instructs: ‘Stand out firmly for justice.’ So history shows that nations that uphold the rights of their people — including the freedom of religion — are ultimately more just and more peaceful and more successful. Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism. So freedom of religion matters to our national security.”

Obama conceded that his administration deals with governments that “don’t always meet our highest standards, but they’re working with us on core interests such as the security of the American people.”

“At the same time, we also deeply believe that it’s in our interest, even with our partners, sometimes with our friends, to stand up for universal human rights. So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. And I’m proud that no nation on Earth does more to stand up for the freedom of religion around the world than the United States of America,” the president said.

“It is not always comfortable to do, but it is right. When I meet with Chinese leaders — and we do a lot of business with the Chinese, and that relationship is extraordinarily important not just to our two countries but to the world — but I stress that realizing China’s potential rests on upholding universal rights, including for Christians, and Tibetan Buddhists, and Uighur Muslims. When I meet with the President of Burma, a country that is trying to emerge out of a long darkness into the light of a representative government, I’ve said that Burma’s return to the international community depends on respecting basic freedoms, including for Christians and Muslims. I’ve pledged our support to the people of Nigeria, who deserve to worship in their churches and mosques in peace, free from terror. I’ve put the weight of my office behind the efforts to protect the people of Sudan and South Sudan, including religious minorities.”

He brought up the Middle East peace talks, stressing “we’ve made clear that lasting peace will require freedom of worship and access to holy sites for all faiths.”

“More broadly, I’ve made the case that no society can truly succeed unless it guarantees the rights of all its peoples, including religious minorities, whether they’re Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, or Baha’i in Iran, or Coptic Christians in Egypt. And in Syria, it means ensuring a place for all people — Alawites and Sunni, Shia and Christian,” Obama said.

“Going forward, we will keep standing for religious freedom around the world. And that includes, by the way, opposing blasphemy and defamation of religion measures, which are promoted sometimes as an expression of religion, but, in fact, all too often can be used to suppress religious minorities. We continue to stand for the rights of all people to practice their faiths in peace and in freedom. And we will continue to stand against the ugly tide of anti-Semitism that rears it’s ugly head all too often.”

Bridget Johnson is a veteran journalist whose news articles and opinion columns have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe. Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor at The Hill, where she wrote The World from The Hill column on foreign policy. Previously she was an opinion writer and editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News.
She is an NPR contributor and has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator. Bridget is Washington Editor for PJ Media.

So the champion for the bomb of Iran - the Muslim Brotherhood - the guy who says Egypt must make a place for the thrown-from-power MB at the table in Egypt - the guy who conveniently turns away from the slaughter of Coptic Christians in Egypt - and ignores muslims here at home who throw their weight around like sumo wrestlers - thinks his administration is 'saving the day'?

For whom? For muslims maybe - but not for the rest of us. There is a war on Christians in this country and the president nor the democrat party seem to care - and go to great lengths to perpetuate that war. Obama/democrats also wage war war on Israel (see Iranian bomb) - whites - women - and blacks - long time allies of the USA etc. They are managing to piss off just about everyone. Good job idiots!

So the Won is in favor of religious freedom where there is none, and where he will do nothing to support the persecuted, and he's against it here. Nothing new, more BS. The only religion Obama knows or cares about is the worship of Barack Hussein Obama.

"Today, we profess the principles we know to be true. We believe that each of us is ‘wonderfully made’ in the image of God. We, therefore, believe in the inherent dignity of every human being — dignity that no earthly power can take away." And under his breath he said, "Oh, and let me be perfectly clear - I mean if you are already OUTSIDE of the womb; otherwise, it's 'reproductive rights' for all women etc, etc."

If he is really a Christian and concerned about the violence against them then why did his administration only allow around 800 Syrian Christians to immigrate to this country while at the same time allowing a disproportionately large number of supposedly displaced Muslims to come here?

And citing the Qur'an is icing on the cake because a number of verses in that same book call for the slaying of non-believers. I guess that the Prez is just practicing lying as a good Muslim would do in the same situation.

Obama also put the weight of his office into bringing back Muslim Brotherhood Egyptian President Morsi, a ploy which failed miserably because his administration doesn't know squat about what's going on there.

Obama's in for a nasty shock quite soon, since I predict Egyptian Army General El-Sisi will be the next President of Egypt in short order. Watch the whining start when that happens. Ironically, Egypt's Christian Copts are quite happy with that idea. As usual, Obama is on the wrong side, his boy Morsi in prison, always a dollar short and trying to run after events and spin them like he was there all along.

Freedom for ALL faiths / gods...Obama prays for at National Prayer Breakfast.

"We sometimes see religion twisted in attempt to justify hatred, persecution against other people just because of who they are and how they pray or who they love."

Is Obama referring to people who embrace freedom of self-rights, of self-religion, of self-sexuality?

The definition of “Religious Freedom” = the RIGHT (it is right / it is good) to be free (without consequence) to worship ANY ‘god’.

...BUT Jesus Christ said that we are to love and worship the One Only Creator and to serve Him Alone....BUT the Creator said that man would die, that his way would die, if he disobeyed Him and took of the forbidden tree of knowing / establishing “good / evil” for one’s own desires.

INSTEAD, President Obama has confessed that “FREEDOM” is the “Light”, that it is the “will” of his ‘god’...of fortresses.This “freedom” speaks of peace and justice...but in reality it does the opposite. The real fruit of this “freedom” is conflict, hatred, and death...for it justifies each to do what is right in one’s own eyes...it justifies the desire to serve and magnify the self (XES).

There is Only One True Way...the Way of Jesus Christ, SON of the Only Creator God.Soon, the One Lord Jesus Christ will return to rule the earth in power according to and in obedience to the Will of the Only God and NOT according to man’s first love for “his freedom”.

"...We believe that each of us is ‘wonderfully made’ in the image of God."

That's why on most occasions when you quote tthe Declaration of Independence you intentionally leave out the phrase "endowed by our Creator".

This is the guy who told wealthy San Franciscans during his '08 run about those bitter clingers in western Pennsylvania, pathetic souls who cling to guns and religion and narrow mindedness because the jobs are all gone.

Given yesterday's observation by the CBO guy that Obamacare "disincentivizes" work, I guess the goal of this administration is to create a lot more bitter clingers.

"He brought up the Middle East peace talks, stressing “we’ve made clear that lasting peace will require freedom of worship and access to holy sites for all faiths.”

Ya hear that, Israel ? A not so veiled slap in the face.

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